Defense Grid 2 Out Next Year, All Kickstarter Backers Get It Free

Last summer, Hidden Path Entertainment launched a Kickstarter for Defense Grid 2, the sequel to the highly popular tower defense game Defense Grid: The Awakening. The Kickstarter was a little unique, as the initial funding goal of $250,000 was for Defense Grid: Containment, an expansion to Awakening, while the sequel would only be a reality at $1 million. It was created that way so fans would at least get something regardless of funding level, which ended up being the case as just before the campaign expired, the $250,000 goal was hit. Containment released this January, but news was extremely light on whether we'd ever see DG2. That is, until today, when Hidden Path founders Jeff Pobst and Jim Garbarini announced Defense Grid 2 is in development thanks to an investor and the overwhelming enthusiasm of all the fans.

The exact name of the investor wasn't stated, but Pobst and Garbarini were positively ecstatic when sharing the news. Defense Grid 2 will be due out in the first half of next year, and it'll contain a new game engine, towers, enemies, and even multiple locations for the power cores. It's even going to have competitive and co-operative multiplayer, plus support for user created content. Hidden Path loves to listen to fan feedback, so to that end it's opening its UserVoice voting for all Kickstarter backers until July 1. After that day it'll be open for all fans, just Hidden Path wants the backers to have the first chance. Kickstarter backers will also have access to various betas and other opportunities to make their voices heard.

When it arrives, Defense Grid 2 will be a Steamworks game for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Oh, and all 6,291 Kickstarter backers are going to get it for free. Expect more information throughout the year, including a solid release date and whichever person/company made DG2 a reality.